Posted on 25/07/2019 21:55
Perhaps I've missed it, but there used to be an annual survey carried out by the CC of it's members satisfaction, or otherwise, of their vans. I can't remember seeing one for a while now. Is this perhaps because the manufacturers of British caravans have put pressure on the CC not to run such a survey because, from reading many of the post on here, it would in fact be a Dis-satisfaction Survey?
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Posted on 09/09/2019 16:41 by DSBHi Hitchglitch. I especially agree with your last sentence. Personally, I'd go for a heavier caravan with a decent user payload, that is well built - and built to last. Perhaps I'm being synical, but I guess it'#s not within a manufacturers interest to make a caravan to last!! The longer they last the less often we will replace them......
David
Posted on 10/09/2019 13:47
spent the weekend at a manufacturer's show, had good look around and I have to say the 'quality' of construction of habitation area is getting worse, if that's possible...
yes, there is still a difference in what you get for (sometimes much) more money but even the premium brands (not British, as there aren't any) are looking to cut corners (costs)...not with quality of build perhaps, but certainly in how the materials have changed in the last five years or so.
the two Carthago ranges that we've had are definitely not as 'nice' now as when we had ours..the upper range still looks great but prices have risen.
other branded mid range vans has wobbly walls, drawers that fell out or wouldn't slide, cheaper cupboards when crying out for drawers.
catches that didn't work were de rigeur and doors that opened the 'wrong way' and caused obstructions were popular.
one mid range brand stood out and that was Adria and OH and I both picked out one that we both really liked and was well put together, however, owner said they weren't selling as the price had risen and there was less margin (allthough their PVCs were going like hot cakes).
in addition, we found Buerstner to have upped their game considerably in the past two years or so and had a noticible lift in design and quality.
as were are likely to be around (for reasons beyond our control) we will probably visit the NEC for the first time in a few years, but not to buy, the way things are moving.
Posted on 10/09/2019 13:47 by young thomasspent the weekend at a manufacturer's show, had good look around and I have to say the 'quality' of construction of habitation area is getting worse, if that's possible...
yes, there is still a difference in what you get for (sometimes much) more money but even the premium brands (not British, as there aren't any) are looking to cut corners (costs)...not with quality of build perhaps, but certainly in how the materials have changed in the last five years or so.
the two Carthago ranges that we've had are definitely not as 'nice' now as when we had ours..the upper range still looks great but prices have risen.
other branded mid range vans has wobbly walls, drawers that fell out or wouldn't slide, cheaper cupboards when crying out for drawers.
catches that didn't work were de rigeur and doors that opened the 'wrong way' and caused obstructions were popular.
one mid range brand stood out and that was Adria and OH and I both picked out one that we both really liked and was well put together, however, owner said they weren't selling as the price had risen and there was less margin (allthough their PVCs were going like hot cakes).
in addition, we found Buerstner to have upped their game considerably in the past two years or so and had a noticible lift in design and quality.
as were are likely to be around (for reasons beyond our control) we will probably visit the NEC for the first time in a few years, but not to buy, the way things are moving.
Posted on 26/01/2020 10:57
Here we are again with a bit more reliability news. M.R. Club friends advise me that they have a problem with a 2017 Swift (will be out of use from Jan. to Jul. for repair - that's a lot of the caravanning season!)
Another one's father bought a new Bailey, which had to go back for numerous corrections, but seems to be OK now - but not a good start, Bailey.
Finally a cousin of a cousin had a Swift which had to be returned because of leaks in the top front window (found out that this was pretty common too ---).
We never seemed to have this trouble when caravans were produced in smaller quantities by smaller manufacturers. Why is it that the modern caravans come with built in faults and cause so many problems? I don't hold out much hope for our caravan industry after we leave the EU. I would sincerely advise anyone NOT to buy a new caravan at present.
nelliethehooker
Caravanner from Cumberland